‘SEVERAL BUYERS’ INTERESTED IN WALNEY PUB

The former King Alfred pub, on Walney, is on the market for £295,000. It has attracted interest from parties believed to be developers and those wanting to run the building as a hotel/pub.

A spokeswoman for the owners, Enterprise Inns, said: “We are currently in discussion with several parties interested in purchasing the freehold of the King Alfred, as yet no decision has been made”.

The Ocean Road building, which overlooks Walney Channel,was boarded up back in January after the Indian Kitchen tenants ceased trading .

The sale includes the bowling green, the home of the King Alfred Bowling Club for more than 50 years, but the sale particulars state that the bowling green is “subject to third party occupation”. A covenant was installed within the deeds of the site to ensure that the area would be “maintained as a bowling green”.

The King Alfred Bowling Club is in discussions with the agents about a possible separate sale of the bowling green. One offer has been turned down and a second is still being considered.

Dave Whitehead, secretary of the King Alfred Bowling Club, said the members want to own the green they have maintained for years so they can guarantee its future.

Mr Whitehead said: “We feel pretty up in the air at the moment. We have given a second and final offer.

“We will fight to maintain the bowling green.

“Everyone would like to see the King Alfred remain as a community pub.”

Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock, wrote to Enterprise Inns asking the company to give the King Alfred bowlers a chance to buy the green as part of any sale package. The company said it would consider any offer from the club.

Members of the club, including Keith Mills and Mr Whitehead, sought Mr Woodcock’s help back in 2010 after local greens were threatened with being cleared for development. Mr Woodcock liaised with bowlers and introduced a parliamentary bill to protect community bowling greens. The bill won cross-party support but ran out of debating time in the Commons. Last year Mr Woodcock launched the Labour Bowlers’ Charter.

He said: “The King Alfred bowling green is an important community asset and I feel sure that most people would not welcome the idea of developers’ bulldozers moving in. It is encouraging to hear that dialogue is taking place between the bowlers and the estate agents acting for the pub’s owners. I believe that we should work to protect community assets and I am keen to see an agreement reached where bowling can continue at the King Alfred.”